Seismic Microzonation and Earthquake Forecasting in Western Anatolia Using K-Means Clustering and Entropy-Based Magnitude Volatility Analysis

Western Anatolia stands out as one of the globally active seismic regions. Characterized by significant tectonic activity and complex fault systems, this region has not been studied in detail so far. For this purpose, earthquakes from 1900 to 2021 are classified using the k-means clustering algorithm. For each determined cluster, seismic pattern variability is evaluated in detail with approximate and sample entropy methods. The study reveals distinct spatial patterns in earthquake magnitudes and depths by investigating sub-regional seismicity. Furthermore, long short-term memory models are used to predict mean earthquake magnitudes. The findings indicate regional heterogeneity, with the second cluster showing the highest magnitudes and emphasizing higher seismic risk. This study provides new insights into earthquake prediction in Western Anatolia by integrating clustering, machine learning and entropy-based techniques for a comprehensive seismic hazard assessment and sets an example for other active fault zones to be examined with similar stages

Angular Insertion Depth in Inner Ear Malformations, Relationship to Cochlear Size, and Implications for Electrode Selection

Objective: The objectives were to determine the interrater agreement of the Skull AP X-ray in measuring angular insertion depth (AID), to provide descriptive information about the insertion depths of different electrodes used in inner ear malformations (IEMs), to investigate the effect of cochlear size and electrode length on AID, and to guide clinicians in electrode selection in IEMs. Study Design: Retrospective case review. Setting; Tertiary referral center. Patients: A total of 198 IEMs (n = 169 patients) and 60 cochleae with normal anatomy (n = 60 patients) were selected from patients with severe mixed or sensorineural hearing loss who presented to our clinic and underwent cochlear implantation (CI) between January 2010 and December 2022. Interventions: Three neurotologists independently measured AID on Skull AP X-rays. Basal turn length of the cochlea was measured in axial and coronal oblique reformatted sections on HRCT images. Main Outcome Measures: Interrater reliability (ICC) of the AID measurements on Skull AP X-ray, determining the impact of cochlea size and electrode length on AID measurements. Results: The interrater reliability (ICC) test showed a high level of consistency in measuring AID in the Skull AP X-ray (R = 0.906, p < 0.001). In the control group, a negative correlation was observed between the AID and the basal turn length of the cochlea, while a positive correlation was found between electrode length and AID (R = 0.947, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The Skull AP X-ray appears to be a dependable tool for measuring AID. In cases of IEMs, it is important to select an electrode of appropriate length, considering the dimensions of the cochlea

Polyneuropathy With Motor Conduction Block in POEMS

Introduction/AimsPolyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome due to an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. Polyneuropathy in POEMS syndrome may present as a subacute or chronic symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy, with electrophysiological features suggesting demyelination. Motor conduction block (CB), which is mostly seen in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), is considered an atypical electrophysiological feature in POEMS syndrome. We examined the frequency of motor CB in POEMS syndrome.MethodsPatients with POEMS syndrome from the database of our department who had been examined between August 2017 and December 2022 were included in this study. All of the patients' clinical and electrophysiological data were retrospectively collected and analyzed.ResultsWe present the data of seven POEMS syndrome patients. Twenty-eight upper extremity motor nerve conduction studies were performed on these patients, and partial CB was detected in seven upper extremity motor nerves (25%) of six of the patients. One patient had motor CB in both the median and ulnar nerves.DiscussionThe distinction between POEMS syndrome and CIDP is important since these conditions require different treatments. Motor CB in POEMS may be more common than has been generally believed. Clinicians should consider this when evaluating patients with demyelinating polyneuropathies and be meticulous in identifying CB. Data from much larger numbers of patients are needed

Integrative Multi-Omics Approach in Human Colon Adenocarcinoma Cell Line: Identification of Phenotypic Changes Observed in Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil Resistance

Aims: Today's omics technologies enable complex analyses to better understand phenotypes. Characterization of metabolic phenotypes requires the identification of large numbers of proteins, metabolites and simultaneous as well as comprehensive analysis of their turnover rates. In this study, alterations in the phenotype of human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (Caco-2) resulting from resistance to chemotherapeutics were investigated by multiomics analysis. Main methods: Drug resistance to cisplatin (CIS) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was induced by long-term exposure of Caco-2 cells to minimum lethal dose. Integrated omics analysis was performed using proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics and O-18-based fluxomics analyses. Key findings: As a result of aforementioned analyses, 650 proteins, more than 300 metabolites/lipids were determined and the turnover rates of a total of 38 metabolites, including intermediates in the Krebs Cycle, amino acids, fatty acids and phosphonucleotides, were calculated. Multivariate analyses revealed significant differences in phenotype between the cell group induced with either chemotherapeutic agent and the control cells. The joint pathway analysis performed by profiling metabolites, lipids and proteins with significant (p < 0.05) differences between groups showed that malate-aspartate shuttle, amino acid, ammonia metabolism, glucose-alanine and urea cycle pathways were altered due to resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent. Significance: Data from comprehensive omics (proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics and fluxomics) studies of Caco-2 cells induced either with CIS or 5-FU, showed that resistance to chemotherapeutics is due to differences in cell dynamics. Furthermore, the phenotype behind drug resistance depends on the chemotherapeutic agent

An Extremely Rare Case of Gastroptosis Treated Successfully with Itopride in a Patient with Parkinson's Disease

A rare condition known as gastroptosis causes the major curvature of the stomach to shift downward and towards the pelvis. While some are asymptomatic, others experience symptoms. Cross-sectional imaging, or barium X-rays, are diagnostic. The main treatment strategy is conservative, and gastric motility stimulants, including dopamine antagonists, are the mainstay of the treatment. Herein, we describe an elderly patient with multimorbidity, polypharmacy and Parkinson's disease admitted to our clinic with nausea, vomiting and unintentional weight loss complaints who was diagnosed with gastroptosis and treated successfully with itopride, a dopamine antagonist, without worsening Parkinson's disease. This exceedingly rare condition should be kept in mind in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms whose initial diagnostic search is unrevealing. Although the presence of Parkinson's disease casts doubt on the use of dopamine antagonists, itopride has a very low central nervous system (CNS) pass and CNS-related side effects. Moreover, the absence of effective and safe measures other than dopaminergic antagonists and interventional methods renders their use compulsory

The Effectiveness of Structured Vestibular Assessment Form in the Diagnosis Process

Objective: This study investigated the role of vestibular assessment form in the differential diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorders, and disorders originating from central or other non-vestibular causes. Methods: Data from individuals aged 18 and older who visited the audiology unit with complaints of dizziness and/or balance disorders and underwent vestibular/balance evaluation were analyzed. The vestibular disease diagnoses of the individuals and their responses to the vestibular assessment form were evaluated. The vestibular assessment form included questions about the episodes, associated symptoms, auditory symptoms, exacerbating factors, comorbidities, and relieving factors. Results: The study included 56 individuals with peripheral vestibular pathology (mean age: 48.41 +/- 18.15 years, range: 18-77 years) and 29 individuals with non-peripheral vestibular pathology (mean age: 54.55 +/- 16.99 years, range: 21-80 years). Vertigo and vestibulo-visual symptoms were more common in individuals with peripheral vestibular pathology, whereas dizziness and postural symptoms were more frequent in individuals with non-peripheral vestibular pathology (p<0.01). Auditory symptoms and relieving factors were more common in individuals with peripheral vestibular pathologies (p<0.05). In contrast, symptoms such as headache, photophobia, and phonophobia were more frequent in those with non-peripheral vestibular pathologies (p<0.01). Conclusion: The presence of auditory symptoms, vertigo, vestibulo-visual symptoms, neurovegetative symptoms (such as nausea and vomiting), the relieving effect of standing still or resting, and the response to medical treatment in the patient's history, suggest peripheral vestibular pathology. A detailed history is crucial for selecting the appropriate clinical examination, determining the need for additional tests, and ensuring a time-and cost-effective evaluation of patients with vestibular symptoms

Predictors of proteinuria, amyloidosis and kidney failure in familial Mediterranean fever: data from the International AIDA Network Registry

Objectives Proteinuria, amyloidosis and kidney failure are the main long-term renal complications of FMF. This study assesses their risk factors, independent of ethnicity or residence.Methods Patients' data were drawn from the International AIDA Network registry for monogenic autoinflammatory diseases.Results A total of 598 FMF patients were enrolled, with 80 having proteinuria, 61 amyloidosis and 25 kidney failure. At multivariate regression analysis, proteinuria was associated with out-of-flares thrombocytosis (odds ratio [OR]: 4.78, 95% CI: 1.54-14.8, P = 0.007), increased out-of-flares ESR (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3-5.6, P = 0.008), homozygous M694V mutation (OR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.1-4.66, P = 0.025) and heterozygous M694V mutation (OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.86, P = 0.026); amyloidosis was associated with the disease duration (OR: 1.034, 95% CI: 1.004-1.065, P = 0.027), during-flares anaemia (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.18-7.19, P = 0.021), out-of-flares leucocytosis (OR: 7.47, 95% CI: 1.6-34.7, P = 0.01), increased out-of-flares ESR (OR: 3.6, 95% CI: 1.48-8.81, P = 0.005) and heterozygous M694V mutation (OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.035-0.9, P = 0.04); kidney failure was associated with the age at diagnosis (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.0003-1.19, P = 0.048), the disease duration in years (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.12, P = 0.005), attack frequency per year (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.007-1.076, P = 0.019), anaemia out-of-flares (OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.004-22.1, P = 0.049) and out-of-flares leucocytosis (OR: 25.8, 95% CI: 2.75-242, P = 0.004). The intraclass correlation coefficient related to ethnicity and country of residence was 6.7% and 6.8% for amyloidosis, respectively, and 0% for proteinuria and kidney failure.Conclusion FMF patients with older age at diagnosis, longer disease duration, anaemia, leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, elevated ESR and homozygous M694V mutation are at higher risk of kidney complications

Unveiling the strain uniformity challenge: design and evaluation of a PDMS membrane for precise mechanobiology studies

Mechanotransduction and mechanosensing enable cells to respond to mechanical stimuli, essential in various physiological functions. Specialized cell stretching devices use stretchable, transparent, and biocompatible elastomeric membranes to study these responses. However, achieving strain uniformity is a key challenge, affecting data accuracy and reliability. This study designed a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane with optimized uniformity for electromechanical cell stretching. Finite element analysis optimized membrane size and shape, achieving a 90% strain uniformity index-a 233% improvement over commercial membranes. By tailoring material properties like cross-linker ratio and curing time, membrane failure issues were resolved, enhancing applications in tissue engineering and mechanobiology research